Supposed 'Date'! [Nanase & Sophia]

[thesteedman]

The blasts of the howling wind and the onslaught of violent rainfall came to a sudden end the moment the ladies managed to enter the Nakano Manor within the estate. With the slide of doors, what was the song of gale force winds died down to mere whispers and the rattle of distant doors that help firm against the storm. Hopefully that would be the last time the duo would have to endure such a thing, though there was no telling how long the near monsoon would remain on-going for. Hangaku had the right of it though; the two ladies had already faced down the worst of it. Already being wet, there was little more damage it could do to them. Finally however, there was some salvation in the shelter of the Nakano manor.

Sophia's footwear squelched with each step upon the wooden ground, as she found herself wiping the excess water from her eyes. Once more, there was the illusion as if buckets of water had been thrown on the ladies, with the German's clothing clinging to her alluring figure, soaked right through. When Sophia Wolfe managed to clear the blur of water from her eyes, she was granted the first sight of the Manor Hangaku had invited her too. Having lived in the city since being contracted to the LAW, seeing the more traditional Japanese Manor was a welcome sight. It felt like a surviving structure from feudal Japan, though there were hints of modernisation here and there. What was visible of corridors and rooms were ornate with paintings of Japanese figures and locations, partitioned by Shoji doors to reveal lavish clothed tables with cushioned seating. There was warmth that hit Sophia's form immediately once she was inside, feeling the welcoming heat of the manor that was a welcome sensation to her otherwise sodden form from the rain.

It was only a part of the greater Manor, but it felt oddly peaceful to gaze upon, even with the whispers of wind beyond the structure. Sophia was immediately captivated by the place, her eyes scanning details of the place. Though they stood in the hallway, she felt bad that she was dripping wet, hearing the song of heavy drips tapping against the expensive looking wooden ground below. Sophia was aware of a few Japanese traditions since living within the Nation, aware that it was custom to remove ones shoes before entering the main living area. Not wanting to insult her date, she slipped off her damp footwear, placing them neatly within the squared area of the entrance, standing barefoot.

She still felt a little out of place, unsure what was to happen next as she turned to Hangaku. Her nerves were playing up once more, the notion of a 'bath' still playing with her and making her core flutter, but the German was not as bad as when she first met her date in the restaurant. There was a few tells that were no doubt becoming more obvious to Nanase the more time she spent with the German beauty, but she was doing a well enough task to mask her lack of calm. Sophia was certainly throwing herself in the deep end doing this.
"This is your home? I must say it is truly breath-taking." Sophia could not help but note, bringing words to what was in her mind.

[dlamp]

Salvation came at last, Nanase step into the house with Suzuki in front of them as the door quickly slammed shut before the wind got one last bit of revenge for fighting its wrath. It took a lot to not drop to her knees, but Nanase was able to only let out a short sigh of relief as a sign of the fatigue leaving her. Safety and comfort was reached, and the two could finally relax for a bit.

And just one look at Sophia made it clear she was quite enraptured by Nanase's home. While an ordinary sight for the owner and most of those in her circle, the mix of modern and traditional fixtures were likely a surprise to the average person or anyone new to just how weathy Nanase's was. On the outside it looked like a small castle from the Sengoku era with a traditional gate, roofing, and even some outdoor fixtures. But on the inside? Inside, it was much more modern. The house might have tatami mats, sliding doors, and wooden floor, but the wiring, structure, and building material were much more modern. It was a house that had been made and remade several times over her family's generations in contrast to their head family. Where the Taishuya often modernized most of their buildings aside from some traditional dojos for tax and contracting purposes, the Nakano family believed in maintaining an aesthetic and traditionalism. It was a traditional Nanase held as well.

"Ah, thank you." Nanase replied, giving a smile as she ran a hand through her hair, feeling the small puddling dripping behind her as she did so. Ah, right. Safe or not, the two were still far from dry. And just looking at how Sophia's clothes were starting to fuse with her skin had reminded Nanase that she was in no better a position. "Well, I'll show you to the indoor bathing area." Nanase quickly took off her shoes at the welcome area, stepping into the house in full as she signaled a nearby attendant. "Shizuku-san, please bring me and my guest some towels and a change of clothes. We'll be going to the bathing room shortly."

The attendant nodded and gave a small bow. "Of course, Nanase-san." And without another word she was off.

"Well then." Nanase offered Sophia a hand. "Shall we?"

[thesteedman]

The mention of a bathing room began to bring a little bewilderment to Sophia, as she slowly realised the two were not exactly going into separate bathrooms as she first thought. She felt a breath catch in her chest, beginning to figure out that this was something else. Sophia was aware of Japanese traditional Bath houses, and she wondered if this Manor had its own equivalent, with Nanase's intent for the two to enter such a place. That was not to say that the German was against the idea, the scarred beauty was doing all she could in recent times to try and test herself and try new things, to push new social boundaries that had previously always alluded her... it's just that it made her nervous to think about it, knowing the two would be in each other’s presence in a potential state of undress. Sophia near blushed at the mere thought.

It was not exactly what she had in mind for a first date, but then... Sophia did not exactly know what she had in mind. In truth she thought the whole affair would have been a jest on Nanase's part... a method of further humiliation post spar in which Sophia would endure a long night but soon find herself back home and delving into her comic books to try and forget about the entire thing... but the evening had been anything but humiliating, rather Nanase was treating the night and Sophia herself with dignity and respect. Dare Sophia say it... but she had enjoyed the evening thus far, raging storm and all. The German was just worried what would happen next, and if she was ready for such a step.

With Nanase offering a hand, Sophia hesitated a little, clearly still dealing with conflicting thoughts... but she was aware if things did become too much for her, the stunning German blonde could always say so and ease back. Sophia still was in control of her own actions, even if she could not dictate the weather. There was still the possibility that the two would just be getting dry too.... right?... ... ...

Taking Nanase's slender hand with her own, she felt her fingers curl around her palm. Her skin was naturally damp from the rain yet still soft and smooth to the touch. It was hard to believe someone like Nanase who was so well versed in martial arts would have such smooth skin, and it was the first time the two had touched in such a controlled manner. Sophia had daringly grasped her hand earlier, but that was through rushed thinking to try and guide the pair out of the rain... this naturally opened Nanase to offer her hand, and now here was Sophia, taking it.

Attendants began to move around, but ultimately cleared a path for Nanase and the Manor's guest of the evening. Taking her first steps into the house, Sophia pulled an awkward expression as she began to hear the drumming beats of rain water against the wooden floor. Nanase did not seem to mind however, her hand holding into Sophia's....
"Lead the way...." Sophia whispered with a pleasant half smile.

[dlamp]

For a moment, there was a pause as Nanase held out her hand. Her eyes glanced up at Sophia, noting the hesitation on her stoic face. And the sight had Nanase's expression falter for a moment. Maybe... I went a little too far in assuming. Nanase was already familiar with the idea of bathing around others, between her several attendants along with bathing with her Senso no Hana members she was used to the situation. But... Sophia probably wasn't. Still, it seemed after another moment the woman worked up the nerve to take Nanase's hand and accept the offer in full. Nanase had to respect the woman's bravery to face the unknown.

"Of course," She gave her date a smile and nod, then started to move forward as she guided Sophia toward the bathing area.

Thankfully it was a very short trip. As many of Nanase's jobs, training, and duties were physically demanding the baths were always just a few rooms away from the entrance. A quick walk passing as little as two or three doors before reaching the bathing room. Behind were two sets of doors, one to the bath proper, and the other a small shower area. Ah, right. I should probably explain this one. "Sophia, I'll let you go in first." She tapped the right side in front of her. "You can wash off properly in this room. There's plenty of soap, shampoo, a shower head to rinse, and you can call on my attendants if you need addition supplies or assistance." She explained. "I'll leave you to your privacy and you can let me know when you've finished."

[thesteedman]

Sophia gave a nod before she tentatively would enter the shower room. It the kind of room you could expect from what Nanase had told her before she entered. It would have been out of place, but somehow there was a manner in which the facilities were designed and implemented that it actually somehow blended in with the more traditional surroundings. It was an odd mix, but it all somehow worked fine. When she was closed off and finally in private, Sophia took a moment to gaze upon herself in the mirror. Her nerves were still a flutter within her core, and she could not help but pull a bit of an awkward expression as she looked at her rain soaked features. The German was really pushing herself beyond her comfort levels...

After giving herself a mental pep talk, Sophia soon slipped out of her sodden clothes, letting them slop at her feet just beyond the shower area. It was a relief to be out of her outfit after being soaked for so long, now clad only within her small clothes, wearing a sports bra like top and matching boy shorts. It was essentially swimming gear, as it had been Sophia's intent to visit the LAW gym pool should the date have gone awry... and yet here she was, going deeper into the lion’s den as the night progressed. How ironic that this outfit would see use after all? It was not where the German had expected to find herself... though the storm played a major part in the turn of events. Soon enough, Sophia slipped from her gym style underclothes, placing them upon a nearby heated rack... whilst there was no saving her going out clothes, she was confident the material of her underclothes would dry quickly... perhaps a pointless endeavour, since she would not doubt be getting wet again, but by now she was just playing the motions.

It took a brief moment to work out the shower, everyone in the world seeming to possess a different form of device... but soon enough Sophia began to feel the rain again on her now naked form. This time however, it was a welcoming experience. The water was firm, but more consistent, and more importantly it was hot. The steam began to rise from Sophia's exquisite form, her soft skin glistening in the low light of the wash room. The German could not help but groan softly, biting on her lower lip as she let the water slide down her body. She took a good few minutes just leaning against the shower wall with her hands and her head down, enjoying the sensation as the sins of the day were washed from her form. Aware however that she was within the welcomed company of another and a guest, Sophia began to wash herself, using the high quality products to lathe her form down.

By the time she turned the shower off, her backup swimwear was as dry as a bone upon the heated rack. Sophia dried herself off as best as she could, her own mind working against her and rushing her a little. Soon though she was clad back into her swimwear, wrapping a towel around her hips.... knowing she was probably going to have to explain why she was wearing swimming clothes at some point. She took another minute to collect herself, collecting one more towel to drape over her shoulders... aware that it would soon be time to go into the bath area. Her hair was damp, and somewhat unkempt, but it only made the German look all the more captivating. Her visible skin glistened from the condensation of the hot shower.
"I... I am ready..." Sophia declared somewhat meekly. There was those nerves again...

[dlamp]

"Nanase-san. Are you sure about this?" One of Nanase's attendants spoke up, soon after the door of the shower area closed. Nanase rose an eye, glancing at the door.

"Yes," She said after a pause. "I think I might have pushed her a little too far with the idea, but she made the final decision herself." Nanase snapped her fingers, and another attendant handed her a towel while another came with a wireless hairdryer and comb to start cleaning the rain from their employer. "The baths are rather large and spacious, so we'll just give her some time to relax on her own before I come in." It was the sensible thing to do, at least according to Nanase. Giving Sophia all the time she needed to adjust and ready herself seemed fair. It might had been Nanase's idea to shower, bath, and reset themselves for the rest of the... well, continuing to call it a date felt wrong, but the rest of the... afternoon could slowly turn to a quieter, more intimate arrangement. Something a bit more casual and comfy than being outside in the rain and muck.

"Yes... but I was talking abou-"

"I... I am ready..."

Nanase's eyes glanced over to the door, watching the shadowed image of a human moving from the showers to the bathing area proper. Both Nanase and her attend glanced at each other, then the door. That was a bit faster than I expected... No matter. "Alright." Nanase let her attendants finish drying her clothes and body before they took a moment to clean and wipe down the area, along with taking Sophia's clothes to be properly cleaned and managed.

Thanks to her attendants, it wasn't as long a time as Sophia's admittedly brief moments in the showers were. Already dried and wiped down, she quickly removed her clothes and signaled her attendants to take them for proper cleaning as well. From there it was a simple matter of a quick rinse and wash. As tempting as it was to take her time in the showers and relax she knew that Sophia's nerves might go into overdrive the more she actually took her time with it. So, a quick shower went by in a little under two minutes with Nanase immediately grabbing a towel to wrap around her hair and chest as she walked out to the baths proper.

The moment she spotted Sophia she gave her a smile noting the towel that was also around her. For such a hard-looking woman she had rather smooth and clear skin that really shined after a good was-

"Ah-" And that's when it clicked for her. The reason for her attendant's words. Her face remained serene on the outside to not alarm her guest, but her thoughts were nearly caustic. Shit, I forgot about my tattoos. She was so use to the attendants, assistants, and Senso no Hana members not making noise about it she completely forgot others might. And Unlike her Princess, Nanase couldn't hide the myriad of of bright red poppy flowers that covered her back and shoulders. "Hm," Still, Sophia was a foreigner, so she might not ask about it.

"Sorry for the wait." Now... to see the reaction and figure out how to direct the conversation from her.

[thesteedman]

Sophia had been taking in the expanse of the Bathing room before Nanase entered behind her. It was quite a sight to behold, especially as it simply existed within the house itself. Such was the decor and size of it; it felt like the manor could have been a dedicated Japanese Bath House. The Bath itself looked as if it could fit 6 comfortably within it; such was the size of it, deep enough to sit within and potentially submerge one’s self if they desired. Besides were unique displays of well-placed rocks and plants, a feature of sorts that had water running from it into the bath itself. The ground below was warm against Sophia's bare feet, suggesting the very slate floors were heated from below. A vast window was just after the bath itself, revealing the outside world. The world beyond was still possessed by the storm, though the thick glass did not so much as rattle despite the strong winds, reinforced it seemed for such conditions.

"It's marvellous." Sophia spoke out loud, one arm folded just below her chest as the other loosely clasped just below her neckline whilst she studied it. She turned when she heard the patter of Nanase approaching, and there was little she could do to hide the blush upon her cheeks, seeing the Japanese beauty clad in little more than a towel. Her previous words would have been better suited to describe Nanase rather than the Bath itself. Her long and alluring legs were left bare, and glistening within the light from the condensation that was within the room from the heat of the bath. Her shoulders were exposed, gleaming in the very same light whilst her hair though somewhat damp only complimented her already stunning looks and angelic features. Sophia had done well to keep her eyes up to match Nanase's own... but they soon traced to the brilliant and colourful display that made up the Tattoo upon her shoulders.

During their spar, she had seen the suggestion of a design upon Nanase's shoulder when her Gi top had almost come open that a tattoo was there, but she could not have imagined it was anything like this. The flower designs were awe inspiring, easy on the eyes, highly detailed. A fair portion of the tattoo was left on display due to where Nanase's towel sat upon her chest, and it was clear Sophia had noticed it. No doubt at this point... it was certain the German would probably bring it up during their time together, but for now she kept quiet about it.
"S... so what happens now? I am unfamiliar with your customs I fear. I am most willing to discover and learn them however." Sophia confessed, her voice catching briefly within her throat as she tried not to be too obvious about how caught off guard she was over Nanase's current state... or lack of attire she wore, near forgetting how exposed she was herself at this point..

[dlamp]

"Hmhmhm~ I'm glad you like it." Much to Nanase's relief Sophia didn't ask about her tattoos and the woman would breathe easy. I suppose her being foreign would mean she wouldn't care. Still, she should make note of the fact that Sophia didn't ask and probably wouldn't, at least not in the accusatory way some others might. For now, Nanase simply watched with light amusement as the woman stared and ogled at the bathroom itself... along with Nanase.

The room was honestly more a bathhouse than bathroom. A large tub, rinsing bucketing, and beautifully designed walls and tiles. A true sign of the Nakano House's wealth. But more important than the room or even Nanase's body...

"Now..." Nanase said, a smile along her face. "We sit in the tub and let the warm water help us relax." Oh, the temptation. The utter temptation in just letting the towel off, showing off her naked body. and flustering poor, nervous Sophia even further. She could already see the woman fighting a fainting spell and pushing her to the edge would be just the most entertaining thing this week.

But... Nanase had a little more decorum than that. She wasn't evil... mostly. At least not towards her dates.

No, she decided to keep her towel on, calming walking over to the tub and sitting in it, letting out a relaxed sigh as she did so. Not exactly the proper way to enjoy a bath, but it was perfectly find for a situation like this. "You're free to sit anywhere in the tub, Sophia. If you want I can have my attendants bring us some drinks if you'd like."

[thesteedman]

Any outsider looking upon the two ladies within the bathhouse section of the Nakano estate would quickly be able to tell each persona apart. Nanase looked stunning in nothing more than a towel, as it hugged her figure firmly, leaving little to the imagination. Unbeknownst to Sophia hersef, Nanase entered wearing literally just that... a towel and nothing else. Sophia was clearly somewhat out of sorts. Unlike Nanase, she was unaware of the customs or the processes, clad in form fitting gym like underwear, wearing thin boy shorts and a matching strapless sports bra. Given she had a towel over her shoulders, Nanase no doubt saw this, whilst another was wrapped around her hips. One benefit of this look however have Nanase a good gaze upon her exposed midriff, and a good portion of her cleavage with her shoulders left bare. Sophia was certainly a marvel herself to behold... very few people had witnessed her clad in so little.

"T... that would be nice. I may need a minute first however to adjust." Sophia whispered with a forced yet still alluring smile. Following Nanase's lead, and seeing her enter the water with her towel on, Sophia soon followed suit, sliding off the towel from her shoulders but keeping the one around her hips for now. Nanase's movements were smooth as she slipped her lithe form into the hot waters, before she let a sigh slip from her parting lips. Sophia watched as the waters slowly doused her exposed skin, leaving a fine glisten on her soft flesh, before her towel seemed to cling all the more to her stunning body. Sophia managed to look away before Nanase noticed her staring, though the faint blush on her cheeks no doubt hinted what she had been up to.

The moment Nanase was settled, Sophia began to slip into the water. The moment one of her legs was submerged, she felt a deep comfortable heat. The rest of her body slowly began to follow suit, but a slight wince formed upon the German's angelic features which she tried to hide from Nanase. It was not the first time this had happened, as when Sophia first seated herself during their visit to the restaurant, it was clear something was ailing her. Her back had been giving her some issues since her last brutal match... Despite this however, she settled down into the waters, letting it raise upwards until most of her body was submerged. She sat to Nanase's side, a right angle away from her. Looking towards Nanase she could not help but manage a genuine smile as she began to feel the warmth surrounding her form from the bath.
"This is really wonderful..." Sophia spoke out. This entire experience was completely new to her.

[dlamp]

"Hmhm, of course." Nanase lied back, letting the hot water overtake her worn and tired body. After all that rain and all that effort it took just to get into the manor this bath was a heavenly reward for the hell her and Sophia had to experience after the restaurant. Even taking a moment to rinse off all the muck didn't compare to the waves of pleasure that came from the hot water under her. She took a quick glance at Sophia, rising an eye for a moment at her attire. "... ... ..." And... she was staring. A bra and shorts... in a bath.

"Ehehe..." It was hard not to laugh at the sight, but Nanase kept her chuckles as quiet as she could manage. I truly forget that some foreigners aren't familiar with the practice. Still, best not to make the woman more uncomfortable by asking her to strip further. Nanase could explain the proper practice later. And in all honesty she rather liked the situation. It was... more casual in a way, a bit more earnest. Though the small wince Sophia gave had Nanase pause. Hm... She kept quiet for the moment and simply enjoyed Sophia's presence. How long has it been since I had an honest bath like this? She didn't often indulge in the bathhouse much due to her busy schedule of keeping up with Himeko or Reiko, but this was nice. She might have to make more excuses for this sort of date more often.
"It is quite nice. To just let all the stress and worries of the day just melt away with the water and relax... I wish everyday could be like this." She sighed, leaning back. "If you want a drink or anything I'd recommend something light. Some flavored water, a light juice, or even a clear soda if that's your preference." She began. "For after the bath, something heavier like milk is usually preferred."